U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Washington will be able to finalize trade agreements with all countries, including China, within the next three to four weeks. Amid tightening tariff policies, Beijing has come under pressure — tariffs on Chinese goods have reached up to 145%.
In early April, the U.S. authorities introduced an updated customs tariff system. According to the new regulations, the base import duty is set at 10%. However, significantly higher tariffs have been imposed on certain countries, resulting in Chinese products being taxed as high as 145%. In response, Beijing raised tariffs on American goods to 125%.
In an interview with CNN, Trump stated that he expects trade deals to be signed soon with global partners, including China.
“We will make deals with everyone,” the president said. “I believe we’ll be able to get everything done within the next three or four weeks,” he added.
The head of state metaphorically compared the United States to “a big, beautiful department store.”
“At a certain point, if we can’t reach an agreement, we’ll simply set a limit, impose tariffs… and say: ‘Come in and buy,’” he declared. According to him, if trade partners find those terms unacceptable, they “don’t have to shop at the store called America.”
Background of the Conflict
The trade standoff between the United States and China has deep roots. The White House has repeatedly accused Beijing of unfair trade practices, currency manipulation, and systemic violations of intellectual property rights. Trump has also criticized the massive trade deficit with China, which has consistently exceeded $300 billion annually in recent years.
Tariffs became one of the tools of pressure the U.S. administration used to push China toward concessions. From Beijing’s perspective, these actions are seen as an attempt to hinder national economic growth and disrupt technological advancement.
China’s Retaliatory Measures
According to recent data, Chinese exports have come under pressure from U.S. tariffs of up to 145%. In retaliation, the Chinese government imposed tariffs of 125% on American goods. Additionally, Beijing restricted the export of several natural resources, including rare earth metals, which play a crucial role in electronics and green technologies. These moves have sparked concern among high-tech sectors in the West.
In response, the White House threatened to further raise tariffs on Chinese goods by another 100 percentage points — up to 245%.
International Response
As reported by Reuters, China had for months attempted to avoid escalation, but after the latest wave of U.S. tariffs, it adopted reciprocal measures. Beijing has actively worked to strengthen ties with America’s allies — including European countries, Japan, and South Korea — all of which have also been affected by the U.S. tariff regime. Moreover, Chinese President Xi Jinping this week embarked on a tour of Southeast Asia to expand trade relationships and diversify markets.
Meanwhile, the U.S. temporarily suspended new tariffs for more than 75 countries for 90 days, although the base 10% rate remains in effect for them. This relief measure did not extend to China.
Potential Consequences
Economists warn that a prolonged trade war between the world’s two largest economies could destabilize global markets, slow down worldwide economic growth, and increase inflationary pressure. Developing nations, which depend heavily on supply chains involving both the U.S. and China, are especially vulnerable.
At the same time, some American manufacturers have voiced support for Trump’s policies, hoping the new trade approach will help bring production back to the U.S. and reduce dependence on China.